3rd July 1916 Monday

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A hundred years on and the weather on the Somme was remarkably similar to that which we have been experiencing now in London. Changeable, either glorious or cold and wet.

By the third day of the battle the realities and horror of it all began to manifest as Douglas’s workload grew to unworkable proportions.

“Next day July 3rd– We were back again at the C.C.S. All the wounds we dressed were sceptic as the men had lain so long in the open without being able to receive attention. They were in a pitiful plight. The first man I attended to had his nose and mouth shot away and his hand and both his legs severely shattered necessitating amputation.

At 8pm we left for Franvillers. It was a long wearisome march in the dark and the rain came down in buckets. At one crossroad we had to wait about an hour whilst two miles of artillery passed by along the main road.”

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